Cancer Voices NSW consumer representatives contribute to cancer research and decision-making by representing the needs and issues of people affected by cancer. They participate in committees and working parties of organisations like the following:
Cancer consumer representatives also sit on many working parties for site-specific cancers (e.g. breast, prostate, bowel, lung, etc) for their own member organisations, and at state and national levels.
Cancer Voices has released two guides to assist researchers and consumer representatives to work together. These guides clarify roles and expectations for both parties. We suggest you reach both as it helps understand what both ‘sides’ expect.
Guides for consumer nominees
Guide for researchers
To request a consumer representative please complete the online form.
All our consumer representatives are trained. Information about training to be a consumer representative or consumer advocacy can be found at Consumer Training.
Cancer Voices NSW operates on Best Practice Principles of Consumer Participation (see position statement). When we nominate a Consumer Representative, it means we have confidence that person will be able to offer the broad view of people affected by cancer – as best they can – not just their own individual view. Our nominee takes a place on a committee to offer a cancer consumer perspective – i.e. representing the needs and interests of people affected by cancer. He or she is not expected to provide a CVN organisational view, only the Chair, or delegated Office Bearers need to do that, and very occasionally.
For a full description of the CIR Program, including training, matching and consumer priorities for research, see CIR Overview.